The South Dakota Water Management Board on Thursday approved new rules for injection wells for uranium mining operations proposed for the Black Hills region, but state environmental officials said it will be at least two years before any mining begins.

First, the rules and a similar set before the state Board of Minerals and Environment must be reviewed by a legislative committee and checked by the Secretary of State, a process that could take two or three months.

Then, mining companies would apply for permits from both the water board and the environment board, a lengthy process with public-input opportunities.

"I would say that will take two years, at least," state Department of Environment and Natural Resources mining engineer Mike Cepak of Pierre said Thursday.

The water board heard public testimony on the injection-well rules during a public hearing Wednesday at the Radisson Hotel. The board approved the rules Thursday morning with only minor alterations in response to public comment.

But Sierra Club representative Shirley Frederick of Rapid City was encouraged by the board's willingness to listen to public concerns.

"I don't consider them adversaries on this. I think we're all in the same corner," Frederick said. "We want to protect our water resources and make sure any mining is done responsibly."

The board has a limited role in regulating the injection-well uranium mining, called in situ leach mining, because the process has been authorized by the state Legislature. In situ mining uses a well system to inject a solution into underground seams of uranium and recover the solution in other wells. The mine areas would be surrounded by monitoring wells to guard against pollutants escaping the production zone.

The board grants injection-well permits for the operations and sees that they are operated properly. Frederick said board members seemed receptive to the idea of an independent monitor for the uranium mines but didn't have money in their budget.

"One idea was to go in to the next state Legislature and ask for funds to pay for it," she said

Powertech USA is exploring for uranium deposits in several areas in the Black Hills region, both in South Dakota and Wyoming. It is digging monitoring wells near Edgemont and gathering "baseline data" for their permit applications, Cepak said.

At least two other uranium companies also are in that area, Cepak said.

The rules approved Thursday will be part of the well permit required by the water board. Energy companies also need a mining permit from the state Board of Minerals and Environment. There would be public comment options during each permit process. Before that, however, the new water board rules will be examined by the Legislature's Rules Review committee April 15 at the state Capitol in Pierre.

If you go What: Legislature's Interim Rules Committee review of water board rules approved Thursday

When: 8:50 a.m. MDT, April 15

Where: State Capitol in Pierre

Watching long distance: Interactive video site available at Rapid City Regional Hospital.

Contact Kevin Woster sy 394-8413 or kevin.woster@rapidcityjournal.com